PETER LOVENKRANDS says that Newcastle United will go in against Scunthorpe with their tails up after denying Middlesbrough the points at the Riverside.

Lovenkrands believes that Newcastle finished the game on top against the Teessiders, and after netting his 13th of the season revealed he was feeling sharp ahead of the clash with relegation-haunted Scunny.

He told the Chronicle today: “I was just pleased to fire us ahead.

“I wasn’t too happy when we were dragged level, it was a kick in the teeth after we’d worked hard to open them up.

“I’m always just pleased to help the team by getting the goal and we’re probably pleased to get a point.

“It was a fair result for us.”

United hold a four-point advantage over second-placed West Brom and there is a nine-point gap between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest after the weekend’s results, with the Mags having a game in hand.

And Lovenkrands is delighted with the position going into the final 11 matches.

He said: “We’re still top and that’s all that counts at this stage of the season.

“It was an important point.

“That could turn out to be a very important one by the end of the league.

“We’re just pleased to get it.”

And the great Dane also found time to praise the travelling Toon Army after more than 3,700 fans made the journey down the A19. He said: “They were great and we couldn’t let them down.

“You could hear them the whole way through and they backed us all the way.

“When you are playing in front of those fans you know you don’t want to let them down, we just have to keep on doing what we have and picking up points.

“We’re at home next and we just have to keep pushing on and getting the results we need.” Meanwhile Wednesday’s opponents Scunthorpe were cruelly denied a point at Ipswich Town.

The Iron lost 1-0 with a 93rd-minute winner for Roy Keane’s side coming from Connor Wickham.

Iron boss Nigel Adkins said: “We’ll regroup for Newcastle and it is one that our supporters will relish.

“Nobody will give us a chance of getting something at St James’ Park but we believe we can.”